Label affixing machine



Nov. 7, 1939. v. I oBAsso LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed June 14. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nw. Gm.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1939. v. LOBASSO LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 19159 J 23 W @99 0 o 69 9 .o c V .www uw, 5 401 3 5, @JM o HUMA..

- INVENTOR l//NcEA/T osso BY ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1939. v. I oBAsso LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 fvwm TS N ma V T NB/ T lo A Nov. 7, 1939. v. n oBAsso f 2,179.264

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 If@ 97 /050 Q INVENTOR V//Ncf/VT ,4 0567350 ATTO R N EYS Nov. 7, 1939. v. LoBAsso 2,179,264...

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE l Filed June 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 VINCE/vr o5/@aso ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7,1939 Y `UNITED N STATES PATENT OFFICE A 2,179,284 f LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE vincent Lobasso, New York, n.1. Application June 14, 1939, serial No. 279,097

13 Claims.

` This invention relates to improvements in label ailxing machines and has particular reference to a machine for applying labels to cylindrical articles such as thread cops or spools.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of practical construction Wherein a label is extended about an article by the use of two elements which cooperate to overlap the ends oi' the label and one of which has in association therewith a folding device that forms a flap at one of said ends and, after the application of an adhesive to one end of the label, folds sald flap upon the other end of the label to secure said ends together.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodi- `ments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially i on the line 2--2 of Figure 3.

thereto. l

Figures 6 to 9 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating successive steps in the sequence of operations involved in the afilxing of the label to an article.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modled form of mechanism for feeding an article into label ailixing position, and

Figure 11 is an end elevation thereof.

Briefly, the invention' is designed for the purpose of aflixing a label circumferentially about they body of a `cylindrical article, such as thread a cop or spoolfby overlapping the ends of the `label and applying an adhesive to one of said ends before they are overlapped so that the same will be secured about the article in its completed form. In carrying this purpose into effect, each article is fed into a label ailixing position and the movement to said position is utilized to partially extend a label about the article. Upon reaching said position, cooperating means are provided for extending the ends, one after the other, about the article and into overlapping relation with respect to each other. After the rst end has been engaged with the article and the (Cl. ZIB-55) second end is in the act of being extended in overlapping relation to the first end, a folding device operates in conjunction with one of said cooperating elements to form a flap at the extremity of said second end, whereupon an adhesive is applied to the first named end. Thereafter said folding device operates to turn down or extend said ilap over the first named end and the area to which the adhesive has been applied so that the two` ends of the label will be secured together. When this has been accomplished and, before the article to which a label has been afxed is discharged from the machine, another labelis placed in position over said article preparatory to being partially extended around the next succeeding article to be labeled. This latter article is then forced into its labeling position and, in so doing, elects the first mentioned article from said position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine is shown as comprising a frame generally indicated by the numeral l5 and this frame supports in the lower portion thereof (Figure 1) a prime mover I6, such as an electric motor, which supplies the power for driving various parts of the machine. A main drive shaft l1 for operating said parts is connected to the prime mover i6 through the medium of a'belt I8 extending from the shaft of said prime mover around a pulley I9. Another pulley 2li on the shaft Il is connected to the pulley l 9 by the endless belt El` and associated with the latter is a belt tightener in the form of a lever 22 pivoted on the frame l5 and having an idler 23 at one end engaged with said belt and a handle 2li at its other end for operating the lever, there being a spring pressed dog 25 on said handle which is engageable with a rack 26 carried by the frame to hold the belt tightener in various adjusted positions. In. the upper portion of the frame I5, two cooperating guides 2l and 2B are adjustably mounted to accommodate therebetween different sized articles and said guides constitute the label ailixing4 position for the articles 29 to which labels are to be applied. In Figures l and 6, an article which has already had a label affixed thereto, is shown in position between the two guides 2l and 23, and a label 30, which is to be aflixed to the next succeeding article, has been nplaced in position above the labeled article 29 preparatory to the next operation of the niachine. In Figure 2, the dotted line indication above the article 29 is the initial position that the next succeeding article to be operated upon assumes after it has been released from an endless conveyor 3|, while the dotted line position of the label l3l) in Figure 6 indicates the position that said label assumes as said next succeeding article is forced downwardly to its label aillxing position and, in so doing, ejects the previously labeled article from said position. The conveyor 3| may be intermittently operated or continuously driven from any suitable source (not shown) and has associated therewith two opposed side rails 32 which engage the ends of the article 29 tol maintain the same in alignment on the conveyer. These rails 32 are adjustable toward and away from each other to accommodate articles of different lengths and, for this purpose, the rails are provided with uprights 33 which are connected by an oppositely screw threaded shaft 34 having a wheel 35 (Figure 3) at one end by means of which the shaft may be manipulated to secure proper adjustment of the rails. At the end of the conveyor 3| adjacent the label ailixing position there is supported a hopper 36 into which the articles 29 are individually discharged from the conveyor 3| and temporarily held, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The hopper 36 includes a spring pressed plate 3`| which engages the article 29 whether it be of a large or small diameter, and said plate yields to downward pressure upon the article to permit it to pass from the hopper when the article is forced to its label aflixing position. Before this occurs, however, a label 30 is transferred from a magazine 38 (Figure 3) to its position resting upon the previously labeled article as shown in Figures 2 and 6. This transfer of the label is accomplished through the medium of a suction mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 39 which moves back and forth between the full and dotted line positions of Figure 3 to deposit a label in the amxing position and then returns to pick up another label from the magazine 38 for the' next operation. The magazine 38 comprises a frame which may be shifted back and forth relative to the label afxing position so that the suction transfer mechanism will properly operate to pick up a label from the magazine and transfer it to the proper position relative to the article to which it is to shaft 43 in the desired direction the magazine 38, together with its entire assembly shiftable back and forth relative to the label aixing position. The labels 30 are supported within the magazine 38 by means of a table i5 carried by a vertically adjustable shaft 46 which, as will later appear, is constantly driven to gradually raise the table as the labels are transferred therefrom. In order to prevent turning of the table 45, the same has depending therefrom the two guides 4l .which extend downwardly through the base plate 40. The lower screw threaded end of the shaft 46 extends through a beveled gear 48 with which is integrally formed a. nut 49 internally threaded to engage the threads of said shaft. Said nut carries a worm Igear 50 with which is engaged a worm 5| to drive said gear. The drive of said gear is continuous during the operation of the machineand is accomplished through a shaft 52 connected at one end to the gear 5| and its other end through a beveled gear 53 to the main drive shaft I1, there being a universal joint connection 54 in said shaft which lpermits movement of the worm 5| relative to its gear 50. Normally the worm 5| is held in engagement with the gear 50 by means of a latch 55 having engagement with a detent 56 carried by the depending arm 42 of the plate 40. However, the portion of the shaft 52 which carries the worm 5| is mounted for movement toward and away from the gear 50 by means of a bracket 5l carried by the arm 42 and having the link 58 depending therefrom and connected to the worm 5| for a swinging movement relative to the gear 58 when it is desired to disconnect said gearing. When placing a new supply of labels in the magazine, the table 45 is rst lowered to a position on top of the plate so that a stack of labels may be placed in the magazine. The table is lowered manually through a shaft 59 mounted in the bearing member 44 and having at its inner end a beveled gear 60 which meshes with the gear 48 so that the nut 49 may be turned to lower the shaft 46. It is at this time that the worm 5| is disengaged from the gear 50. After the supply of labels has been placed in the magazine and the machine is ready for operation, the gearing 50, 5| is reengaged and as the worm 5| is driven, a rotation will be imparted to the shaft 46 and through its screw threads said shaft will move slowly upward to elevate the table 45 as the supply of labels is being used.

The mechanism for transferring, by suction, each individual label from the magazine 38 to its position beneath an article to which said label is to be affixed will now be described. The operation of this mechanism is controlled from the cam shaft 6| mounted in the lower portion of the machine frame and connected through beveled gearing 62 to a vertical shaft 63 ywhich is driven through similar gearing 64 from the main drive shaft il. Said shaft 6| carries a cam 65 which is connected through linkage 66 to a rock shaft Sl to `which is secured the two vertically extending arms 68 which constitute the oscillatory frame of the transfer mechanism. The upper ends of said arms are joined by a rocking cross rod 69 to which is secured the links 'I0 which are, in turn, connected by the bar 7|. Fixed on this bar are two suction tubes l2 connected by a common hose 'i3 which is joined to a source of air supply presently to be described. When the suction tubes have been moved to the full line position of Figure 3 to deposit a. label in position, the suction in the hose^l3 is momentarily discontinued so as to release the label, whereupon the cam 54 operates to oscillate the frame 58 to the dotted line position of Figure 3. During this movement, the tubes 'l2 are raised slightly so as to disengage from the deposited'label and as said tubes reach their pick-upposition relative to'the labels in the magazine, said tubes are lowered into contact with the uppermost label. The raising of the tubes '|2 from engagement with the deposited label is accomplished through the medium of a stationary cam 14 mounted upon the frame of the machine and engaged by a roller 75 secured to the lowered end of a vertically extended connecting link 16 the upper end of which is joined to the rod 69 by the link |1. A spring 'I8 has one end connected to the link 'i6 and its other end to the adjacent arm 68 and normally exerts a downward pull upon said link to maintain the roller l5 in enarranca gins its movement toward the dotted line pomtion thereof the link, 18 will be pulled downwardly due to the formation of the cam 14, and the rod 88 will be rocked to slightly elevate the free ends oi' the suction tubes 12. Then. at the end` of the movement ot the oscillating frame, when it is desired to lower the tubes into engagement with the top label 30 in the magazine. the link 18 is forced upwardly in the following manner. A cam 19 mounted on the shaft 8| is joined through linkage 80 to a rocking lever 8| arranged alongside of the roller 18. r A second smaller roller 82 extends laterally from the bearing of the roller 15 and directly above the adjacent end of the lever 8|. Thus, as the roller 15 approaches the low point of the stationary canil 14, the roller 82 will contact the lever 8|, and at this instant, the cam 19 will operate to raise the end of the lever 8| in contact with said roller 82 withthe result that the connecting link 1l will rock the rod 69 to lower the free ends of the suction tubes l2 into contact with the uppermost label in the` magazine. At this point a suction is created in the tubes 12 which will cause the tubes to pick up the top label and carry the same to the depositing position as the frame 88 moves through its return movement. The suction for the tubes 'l2 is created by a reciprocating pump 83 of any desired construction. This pump is mounted on a portion of the machine frame andits piston rod 84 is guided in a slotted bracket 35 secured to the frame. The outer end of said rod is connected, by a link 88 to a crank 81 on the main shaft |1 so that continuous reciprocation is imparted to the pump. At one end of the pump cylinder the same has the other end of the hose 13 connected thereto. Another hose 88 is connected to the other end ofthe pump cylinder and extended upwardly to a convenient point on the label magazine 38 so that during a certain in-e terval, namely, at the time when a label issbeing removed from the stack in the magazine and the piston of the pump is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 2, air will be forced through the hose 88 and at its upper end blown onto the uppermost labels in the magazine stack so as to loosen said labels one from the other while the uppermost label is being removed by the tubes 12. The suction necessary for` this removal occurs during the movement of the piston from right to left and as the tubes 12 approach the depositing position shown in full lines in Figure 3, the piston starts its return movement, whereupon the' suction in the hose 13 ceases and the label is thus allowed to fall upon the article then between the guides or holding jaws 21, 28.

As the label transfer mechanism starts its return movement to pick up another label, an escapement mechanism associated with the conveyor 3| becomes effective to release the end article 29 on said conveyor and permits it to drop into the hopper 36. This escapement mechanism, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises two uprights 89 which extend upwardly from the frame of the machine above the lconveyor and joining these uprights is a rock shaft 90 which has secured thereto, intermediate its end, a rocker arm 9|. Supported from the ends of the rocker arm`9| are two pairs of article engaging members 92 slidably mounted in adjustable guides 93 and alternately movable in opposite directions asv the arm 9| is rocked to iirst release the end article 29 on the conveyor and engage the next adjacent article to prevent-it from rolling from the conveyor. When the article 29 is released it rolls into the hopper 38 and momentarily assumes the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, said article remaining in this position until a plunger 94, the operation of which will presently be described, is lowered to forcelsaid article downwardly to the position of Figure 6 where it contacts the label and from which position the downward movement is continued to eject the already labeled article 29 from between the guides 21, 28, the article to `be labeled then assuming the position of the last I through the medium of a link 95 connected at one end to a crank arm 96 on the end of the rock shaft 90 and at its other end, to the upper end of the rockingv lever 91 pivoted on-themachine frame at 98. The lower end of the lever y 91 has one end of the link 99 connected thereto the other end of which is joined to a rocker arm |00 supported on the shaft |0|. A cam |02 on the shaft.|1 controls the movement of the arm |00 so that, at the proper moment, the lever 91 is rocked about its pivot to actuate the article escapement mechanism through the movement imparted to the link 95. During the complete sequence of operations the cam |02 makes one revolution, and in so doing, the escapement mechanism is operated rst to/release the end article oh the conveyor and then operated so as to again assume the position of Figure 2 to permit the succeeding article on the conveyor to assume the same position as the article which had been released.

Through the medium of the lever 91, the plunger 94 is operated concurrently with the escapementmechanism and timed so that said plunger will engage the article 29, after it has been deposited in the hopper 36, and then act to force the same downwardly from said hopper, this being the position of, the parts shown in Figure 6. One form of the plunger mechanism comprises an angular, slotted guide frame |03 mounted upon the frame of the machine and consisting of two spaced'plates (see Figure 4). The plunger 94 is carried at one end of a rod |04 the other of which extends through the slot in the frame |03. This rod is connected, by links to the upper slotted end of the lever 91 which moves between the two plates of the frame |03. Thus as said lever is oscillated by the cam 02 the plunger 94 will be actuated to engage the article in the hopper 38 and force the same downwardly. During this downward movement and just before the upper article 29 contacts the lower article which has been labeled by a previos operation, it is necessary to release the latter article from its supported position between the guides 21 and 28, so that said lower article may be ejected from the machine by the downward pressure of the upper article which is being lowered from the hopper 38 by the plunger 94. The article `which has been previously labeled is supported between the guides 21, 28 by a supporting rod |08 positioned beneath said article and carried by a curved rocking arm |01 pivotally mounted on a bracket |08 secured to the machine frame. The

lower end of the arm |01 is connected by a link guides 21, 28 and the upper article then assumes the position shown in Figure 7. In so doing, the label 30v is extended partially about the article now being labeled by engagement of the label with the edges of the said guides. Before reaching the position of Figure "I the support |06 is returned to its operative position so as to maintain the article between the guides 21 and 28 while the labeling operation is completed.

The next step in the operation is to progressively extend the two ends of the label completely about the article in overlapping relation. This operation is accomplished through the instrumentality of two reciprocating blades IH', ||2. The blade operates slightly in advance of the blade ||2 so as toextend one end of the label 30 around the article before the other end is so extended. The mechanism for accomplishing this result may be described as follows. In a stationary part ||3 of the main frame of the machinethere'are mounted two pairs of longitudinally adjustable rods ||4 and ||5 connected, respectively, to the guides l21 aiid 28. Between the rods ||4 there is slidably mounted a collar H6 to which is pivoted the blade Leaf springs ||1 secured to the frame part ||3 erigages the blade to normally maintain the same in the horizontal position-of Fig. 6. However, when the collar ||6 is moved to the position of Fig. 7, the free edge of the blade will engage the adjacent end of the label 30 and will ride upwardly on the portion of the article 29 projecting above the guide 21, and will thus extend said end of the label about the article, as shown in Fig. 7. For similarly operating the blade 2, there is slidably mounted between the rods ||5, a collar ||8 to which said blade is pivoted and which is engaged by leaf springs ||9. In order to insure that the end of the label 30 engaged by the blade ||2 will overlap the other end of the label, there is associated with said blade a vertically movable lifting rod |20 eng'ageable with the underside of the blade to raise the same to the position of Figure 7 against the tension of the spring ||9 as said blade is moved toward the article 29. In this manner the two ends of the label will be caused to assume the position shown in Figure '1 up to this point in the operation.

To effect the advance and withdrawal of the blade the collar ||6 thereof is carrie'd by a connecting rod I2| which is joined at its other end to a rocking arm |22 pivoted at |23 on the machine frame. A link |24 connects said arm to another rocking arm |25 mounted upon the shaft |0|. A cam |26 on the main sehaft |1 operates to rock, the arm |25 and thus, through the connections just described, reciprocates the collar ||6 of the blade For similarly operating With the result previously mentioned and shown in Figure f1.

As the blade I2 is advanced to perform the operation of Figure 7, the lifting rod is actuated by a plate adjustablymounted upon one end of a rocking arm |3| the other end of which is engaged bya cam |32 mounted upon a shaft |33. CThis shaft is rotated through gearing |34 that is, in turn, driven by a vertical shaft |35 operated from the main shaft |1. The arm |3| is rocked twice during one complete operation, the first time being to lift the blade I2 to the position of Figure 7, and the second time to again raise the blade from the position of Figure 8 to that of Figure 9 as said blade is retracted at the end of the label aflixing operation. 'I'he lifting plate |30 is adjustably mounted on the arm |3| by turning @the same about a vertical axis, and this adjustment is provided so that-the lifting rod |20 will be properly engagedand operated when articles of different diameters are being labeled. Thus, as shown vin Figure 2, a larger article is being labeled but should a smaller article be held between the guides or jaws 21, 28, which are adjustable toward each other as will appear later, the plate |30 would be given a half turn so that the lifting rod |20 would still be engaged by said plate when said rod is moved to the left by an adjustment of the guides 21, 28 toward each other to accommodate a smaller article.

After the parts have assumed the position of Figure 7 thenext step in the operation of ailixing the label is to fold the end of the latter engaged by the blade I I2 so as to temporarily form va flap |36 (Figure 8). For this purpose, said blade ||2 operates in conjunction with a folding device generally-indicated by the numeral |31. This device comprises two Vangular frame members |38 one end of which is pivotally connected to a sliding block |39 and said members are joined intermediate their ends by a folding rod |40. The other extremities of said members |38 .are provided with rollers |4| which travel on a .track |42, and a spring. |43 connects each of the members |38 with the sliding block |39 so as to normally maintain the rollers l4| in engagement with said track. 'I'he device |31 is advanced toward the article 29 at the same time that the blade is advanced and as the latter is lifted by its engagement with the article 21, it contacts the folding rod |40.and thereby raises the device |31 against the tension of the spring |43, as illustrated in Figure 7. As the folding rod rides over the blade, the lifter |20 is lowered to the position of Figure 8 and allows the blade ||2 to lower into contact with the larticle so as to press the end of the label thereagainst. At this instant, the folding -rod is beneaththe end of the label engaged by the blade ||2 and further movement of said rod then engages said end, folds it back to the position of Figure 8 to form the flap |36, and then passes over said flap and onto the blade ||2 as shown in the latter figure, the blade ||2 cooperating with the rod |40 to define the folding line of said ap. The advancement of the folding device, just described, is accomplished as follows. Extending from the sliding block |39 are two rods |44 slidable in suitable bearings and connected at their ends remote from the device |31 by the cross rod |45. This rod is connected to an operating lever |46 pivotally mounted on the shaft |23 and operated by a link |41 which joins said lever with a rocking arm |48 pivoted on the shaft |0| and actuated by an eccentric |49 on the shaft |1.

arras Also operated by the lever |46 is an apparatus' for applying an adhesive to one end of thelabel. The actual application of the adhesive to the label occurs immediately following the formation of the iiap |36 and, as' shown. the adhesive is applied to the underlying end of the label. '121e apparatus i'or accomplishing this result comprises a reservoir |50 mounted upon the frame of the machine and adapted to contain the adhesive. Two roller@ |5|, |52 are utilized for the application of the adhesive to awiper I 53 which engages the roller |52 at the beginning of a label ailixing operation. This wiper |53I is carried by one end of a rod |54 the other end oi.' whichis secured to` a mounting |55 pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever |46. For the purpose of rocking said mounting |55 about its pivot there is provided a small crank |56 connected to the mounting, and joined to this crank is the upper end 'of an operating rod |51 the lower end of which carries a roller |58 engageable with a stationary cam |59. Said roller is maintained in engagement with the cam by a coil spring |60. As the lever |46 is swung to theright to advance the folding device |31 a similar movement is imparted to the wiper |53 causing the same to wipe over the roller i52 so as to be coated with a sumcient supply of adhesive. From the `position of Figure 6 the wiper advances through the position of Figure 'I and to that shown in Figure 8 and as it approaches the latter position the cam |59 acts to exert an upward pressure on the rod |51 which causes the wiper to move downwardly into @ngagement with the underlying end of the label as in Figure 8, thereby applying the adhesive to said label adjacent the folding line of the flap |36. The lever |46 now starts its return movement under the control of, the eccentric |49 and, in so doing, restores the wiper to its starting position. At the same time the folding device |31 starts its return movement :from the position of Figure 8. In so doing, the folding rod |40 rides upwardly on the blade ||2 and engages beneath the ap |36. The wiper |53 now being out of contact with the label, the rod |40 will fold the iiap over into overlapping relation with the otherv end of the label and since the spring |43 of the folding device is continuously exerting a downward pull upon the rod |40, the latter will press the` overlying flap |36 into engagement with the other end of the label and over the area which has been coated with the adhesive. In order that the entire ap may be pressed'into place, the rod |40 is permitted to assume the position of Figure 9 where it is partially recessed between the adjacent guide 21 and the article 29. This lowering of the rod to this position is accomplished by forming a recess |6| in the track |42. 'I'he roller |4`| of the device |31 enters said recess and after the rod |40 has reached the position of Figure 9 the roller |4| rides upwardly out of the recess |6| to again raise the rod |40 after which the retraction of the device |31 continues until the operating lever |46 reaches its extreme left-hand position. When a smaller article is being labeled, a guide indicated in dotted lines at |62 may be placed on tlie track |42 over the recess `|6| and said guide maybe provided with a recess |63 which will permit entrance of theroller |4| to `accomplish the same result as above described. As the parts reach the position of Figure 9 and the blade ||2 starts its reti-acting movement, it is desirable to. lift saidv .the -plunger |11.

time, aspreviously described. by the cam |32 and said rod is immediately lowered by said cam as soon as the blade ||2 hasv cleared the article 29.

As previously mentioned, the guides or jaws 21, 29 are adjustable toward and away from each other to accommodate dinerent sized articles therebetween and said guides are also `spring pressed so as to yieldablyengage the article 29. lieferung specically to Figures 4 and 5, the guides 21, 28 are shown as slidably mounted on the frame part ||3 and two pairs of rods ||4. I l5 have a bearing insaid frame part. The mechanism for exerting yielding pressure upon the guides and for adjusting the same to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5 is identical for each guide and, therefore, a description of one mechanism will sufdce. As shown in Figure 5 each of the rods ||5 associated with the -guide 20 is slidably mounted in the frame part ||3 and the end of said rod remote from the guide passes through a longitudinal slot |64 formed in a. cam member |65 which has its ends mounted in the machine frame, and said cam member is slidably adjustable transversely of said frame. For this purpose one end of the cam member is provided with a handle |66 by means of which said member may be moved back and forth across the frame. A sleeve |61 is mounted upon the reduced end of each rod ||5 adjacent the,cam member |65 and interposed between said sleeve and another portion of the rod ||5 is a coil spring |68 which exerts a yielding pressure upon the guide 28. Shouldit be desired to adjust the guide 28 to the dotted line position of Figure 5, a pull is exerted upon the handle |66 of the cam member and its cam surfaces will vthen force the sleeves |61, and consequently the rods ||5 and the guide 28 toward said dotted line position.

In Figures 10 and 11 there'is shown another embodiment of the plunger mechanism for forcing an article 29 downwardly from the hopper 36 to the label afdxing position. In this embodiment, there is provided a standard -|69 mounted upon the frame of the machine and carrying 'a housing |10 at its upper end. In this housing there is slidably mounted a rack bar |1| which is engageable with a pinion |12 mounted upon one end of a shaft |13. Said rack .bar is connected at one end to the slotted end of the operating lever 91 so as to be reciprocated thereby when the article escapement and the plunger mechanisms are operated. In a vertical guide |14 formed on the housing |10 there is slidably mounted a rack bar |15 which is engaged by a gear |16 carried by the end of the shalt |13 remote from the pinion |12, and the lower end of said rack bar |15 carries Thus as the rack bar |1| is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, by

the operation of the lever 91 the shaft |13 will be rotated so as to lower the rock bar |15 and its plunger |16 into engagement with the article 29 in the hopper 36, and upon return movement of the lever 91 said plunger will be raised preparatory to the next operation.

What is claimed is:

1.; In a label aiiixing machine, means to supportan article in position to have a label applied thereto, said label vhaving a flap thereon, cooperating elements for extending the ends of said label about said article with said ends in overlapping relation, means cooperating with one of said elements to initially fold said ilap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said ilap about the article in overlying relation to said end, and means to apply an adhesive to said end before said ilap is extended thereover. 1'

2. In a label aillxing machine, means to support an article i position to have a label applied thereto, said label having,a flap thereon, oppositely reciprocating blades for extending the ends of a label about an article in overlapping relation, yreciprocating means cooperating with one of said bladesto initially fold said flap away 10 from one end of said label upon movement of said means in one direction and to extend said flap over said end, when moving in the opposite direction, and means to apply an adhesive to said end prior to the extension of said ap thereover. 3. In a label aillxing machine, means to-support an article in position to have a label applied thereto, said label having a flap thereon, two oppositely reciprocating members controlling the extension of the ends of said label about said article in overlapping relation, blades pivoted to end movable with said members for engagement with said ends as said members are moved toward each other, a folder movable in the direction of movement of one of said blades and over the other` to cooperate with the latter in folding said flap away from one end of said label, means to apply an adhesive to said end, and means to move said folder in a direction opposite to its first movement to lay said flap over the coated surface of said end of the label.

4. In a label aflixing machine, means to support an article in position to have a label applied thereto, said label having a flap thereon, two oppositely reciprocating members controlling the extension of the ends of said label about said article in overlapping relation, blades pivoted to and movable with said members for engagement with said ends as said members are moved toward each other, a folder movale in the direction of movement of one of said blades and over the other to cooperate with the latter in folding said flap away from one end of said label, means tofapply an adhesive to said end, and means to move said folder in a direction opposite to its rst movement to lay said flap over the coated surface of said end of the label, and means to lift the second named blade from engagement with said label after said flap has been laid over said coated surface.

50 5. In a label amxing machine, means to support an article in position to have a label applied thereto, said label having a flap thereon, cooperating elements for extending the ends of said label about said article with said ends in overlapping relation, means cooperating with one of said elements to fold said flap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said flap about the article in overlying relation to said end, and means to apply an adhesive to said label adjacent one end thereof before said ap is extended over the'flrst named end.

6. In a label aillxing machine, means to support an article in position to have a label applied thereto, said label having a ap thereon, oppositely reciprocating blades for extending the ends of a label about an article in overlappingv relation, reciprocating means cooperating with one of said blades to fold said flap away from one end of said label upon movement of said means in one direction and to extend said flap over said end when moving in the opposite direction, and means to apply an adhesive to said label adjacent one end thereof before said ap is extended over the first named end.

'7. In a label ailxing machine, an article support, a periodically operated conveyor for feeding articles onto said support one at a time, means to position a label beneath each article prior to being fed onto said support, said 1abe1 having a ilapthereon, cooperating elements'for extend- 5 ing the ends of said label about said article with said ends in overlapping relation, means associated with one of said elements to fold said ap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said flap about the article in overlying relation to said end, and means to apply adhesive to one end of said label before said flap is extended to said overlying relation.

8. In a label ailxing machine, an intermittently operated conveyor, a support, means "to feed articles one at a, time from said conveyortoward said support, a plunger acting upon each article to move the same onto said support, meahs actuated by said plunger for controlling said feeding means, means to position a label beneath each article prior to being fed onto said support, having a flap thereon, cooperating blades for extending the ends of said label about said article in overlapping relation, means associated with one of said blades to fold said flap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said flap around said article in overlying relation to said end of the label, and means to apply an adhesive to one of the overlapping ends of the label before said ap is extended around the article.

9. In a, label afilxing machine, a movable article support, means to feed a label to a position beneath an article before it is positioned onsaid G support, said label having a flap thereon, opposed guides between which an article passes onto said support and which act to extend said label partially around said article, cooperating elements for extending the ends of said label .about said article with said ends in overlapping relation, means associated with one of said elements to fold said flap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said flap about the article in overlying relation to said end, and means'to apply adhesive to one end of said label prior to said flap being extended about the article.

l0. In a label afflxing machine, a movable article support, means to feed a label to a position beneath an article before it is positioned on said support, said label having a flap thereon, opposed guides between which an article passes onto said support and which act to extend said label partially around said article, a conveyor for feeding individual articles to a position above said guides,l a plunger operable to move each article between said guides and onto said support, cooperating elements for extending the ends of said label about said article with said erfis in overlapping relation, means associated with one of said elements to fold said flap away from one end of said label and to thereafter extend said flap about the article in overlying relation to said end, andl means to apply adhesive to one end of said label prior to said flap being extended about the article.

1l. In a label afllxing machine, means to partially extend a label about an article, two cooperating elements for successively'extending the ends of said label about said article, means operable between the successive operations of said two elements for folding one end of said label 70 away from the other end to expose a surface of the latter end and for thereafter extending the rst named end in overlapping relation to the other end, and means to apply adhesive to one of said ends before the same are overlapped.

l2. In a label amxing machine. means to partially extend a label about an article, two cooperatlng reciprocating blades, one operable to completely extend one end of said label about said article and the other blade operating to partially extend the other end of the label about the article, a reciprocating member operable to fold back said other end, and means to apply adhesive to one of said ends, said reciprocating member thereupon operating to extend said other en'd about Isaid article into overlapping relation to the rst named end of the label.

13. In a label afxing machine, means to engage the intermediate portion of a label with a cylindrical article, means to completely extend one end of said label about said article, means to partially extend the other end of the label about said article, means to fold back the latter end when in its partially extended position, and means to apply adhesive to one of said ends, said folding means thereupon operating to overlap said other end onto the :Hirst named end.

CEMT LOBASSO. 

